UPTOWN Magazine

05/01/2026

Ready for the ultimate "Royal Voyage"? 🚢✨

We took to the seas with Princess Cruises to experience a journey defined by luxury, world-class dining, and breathtaking destinations. Whether you are looking for a serene escape or a high-seas adventure, this is the blueprint for your next getaway.

From the unparalleled service to the curated cultural experiences on board, find out why this isn't just a cruise—it's a royal standard of travel. 🌊👑

Read the full feature and start planning your escape at the link below! 📖👇🏿

Every moment aboard Princess Cruises' Royal Princess is designed to indulge, whether cruising the Mexican Riviera or Alaska's glacier-lined waters.

05/01/2026

NYC, we’re outside this weekend! ✨ sēd skin is popping up at two locations for two days of discovery and self-care indulgence. 🧴✨

📍 THE STOPS:

Saturday, May 2 (12 PM – 4 PM): Pretty Well Beauty | 185 Greenwich St, Level C1, NYC

Sunday, May 3 (12 PM – 4 PM): September BK | 83 Saratoga Ave, Brooklyn

💧 THE DRIP BAR:
Come play, layer, and find your favorite single-origin oil at the Drip Bar! sēd is offering exclusive weekend pricing on our favorite face oils, for dry to combination to oily skin:

Hibiscus Seed Radiance Renewal Oil: $72 (Reg. $90)

Guava Seed Brightening Superfruit Oil: $44 (Reg. $55)

Passionfruit Seed Omega Soothing Oil: $44 (Reg. $55)

Green Coffee Bean Energizing Eye Oil: $36 (Reg. $45)

Bring a friend, bring your mother, or just bring yourself and take your time! 🏙️🧖🏾‍♀️

04/13/2026

Authenticity is Omar Benson Miller’s cheat code. 🎭

At the 2026 Lexus UPTOWN Honors, we celebrated Omar Benson Miller () with the Amplified Impact Award. From channeling his father’s Mississippi roots for his poignant portrayal in Sinners to still feeling the impact of his The Last Days of Ptolemy Gray role, Omar is proving that excellence knows no bounds.

“I want to be part of the solution and not the problem,” Miller told UPTOWN in the cover story, Omar Benson Miller and the Power of Portrayal.

Watch Miller’s acceptance speech in the fourth slide.

Tap the link in bio for the exclusive cover story, by Kenneth Williams, on the power of portrayal and the legacy of Reggie Lloyd, Charles Greane, and Cornbread. 📖✨

Third slide: Generated by Google Gemini

BlackExcellence RepresentationMatters

04/07/2026

The "perfect" Christian facade has crumbled in Broward County, Florida.

Joel and Jennifer Kohnert presented themselves as a devout, faith-driven family. But behind closed doors, a dark, racially charged hierarchy existed, allegedly. While their biological children were treated with care, their 12-year-old Black adopted daughter was subjected to what a judge called "inhumane" conditions. They reportedly locked her in a room for years, forced her to write Bible verses as punishment, and stripped her dignity.

This isn't just a case of child abuse; it is a harrowing look at the intersection of religious hypocrisy and racial scapegoating.

Read the full deep dive into the Kohnert case and the "cost of the cape" for Black children in high-status, "hero" households. 🏛️⚖️

White couple Joel and Jennifer Kohnert face charges for the horrific, racially charged abuse of their Black adopted daughter in Florida.

04/06/2026

Historically, MVP stands for Most Valuable Player. In cinema, it stands for Mario Van Peebles. 🏆

From the revolutionary bricks of New Jack City and Panther to his latest masterclass in mentorship, the 2026 Lexus UPTOWN Honors Icon of Achievement recipient isn’t just looking back—he’s building the foundation for what’s next, just like his father Melvin Van Peebles taught him.

🎤 Listen to Mario Van Peebles’ acceptance speech in the last slide.

Tap the link in our bio for the exclusive deep dive into a legacy in motion, written by Kenneth J. Williams. 📖✨

03/25/2026

There are certain figures in entertainment who don’t just occupy space on our screens; they become part of our collective cultural DNA. Taye Diggs is one of those figures. From the moment he stepped onto the Broadway stage in Rent, he brought a specific kind of magnetism—a “megawatt” energy that felt both aspirational and deeply familiar.

As we prepared for the 2026 Lexus UPTOWN Honors, sitting down with the Impact and Excellence Award honoree wasn’t just about cataloging a list of credits. It was about exploring the “art of becoming.” In our cover story by Kenneth Williams, you’ll find a man who has traded the pressure of the “romantic lead” for the profound weight of “legacy.” He speaks candidly about the battles still being fought in Hollywood and the roles that served as a mirror to his own journey as a father. We invite you to join us in celebrating a true alchemist of the craft.

Hear from the icon. Swipe left. Read the full story at the link in our profile.

💫 Excellence defined. We are proud to continue our tribute to the 2026 Lexus UPTOWN Honors recipients with a rollout of stunning digital covers. Prepare for a deep dive into the legacies of Mario Van Peebles, Omar Benson Miller, and Wood Harris—arriving weekly.

Which cover are you most excited for? Let us know in the comments! 👇🏾

03/17/2026

Today, we honor the luminous life and legacy of the iconic Kiki Shepard - a woman whose elegance, talent, and presence left an indelible mark across film, stage, and television.

Best known as the poised and radiant co-host of It’s Showtime at the Apollo, Kiki brought grace and glamour into living rooms around the world, becoming a cultural staple and a symbol of Black excellence in entertainment. Beyond the Apollo stage, her work spanned films, theater productions, and television appearances that showcased her versatility and enduring passion for the arts.

Equally impactful was her commitment to giving back. A devoted advocate for health awareness and community uplift, Kiki Shepard used her platform to support charitable initiatives, mentor emerging talent, and champion causes that empowered and informed, proving that her influence reached far beyond the spotlight.

Kiki Shepard wasn’t just a host, she was a presence, a standard, and a quiet force who elevated every space she entered. Her legacy lives on through the generations she inspired, and the timeless moments she helped create.

Rest in power and poise. 💫

03/12/2026

🎬 The 16th Annual Lexus UPTOWN Honors Hollywood awards ceremony continued our tradition of celebrating the impact, longevity, and brilliance of Black storytellers yesterday, March 11.

🎭 A huge congratulations and thank you to our 2026 honorees — Mario Van Peebles, Taye Diggs, Omar Benson Miller, and Wood Harris — for shaping our entertainment future, moving the culture forward, and inspiring all of us! Stay tuned for snippets of their acceptance speeches in the coming days.

We’re also immensely grateful to our sponsor and partner Lexus! Peep 👀 the convertible beauty in the reel. 😻

03/12/2026

It’s about to go down! 16th Annual .co

03/07/2026

🍷✨ California flavor meets Disney magic.

The Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival is back at Disney California Adventure Park in Disneyland Resort from March 6 through April 27, 2026 - bringing eight marketplaces filled with limited-time bites and drinks inspired by the diversity of California cuisine.

Foodies can sample standout dishes like carbonara pizzetta, chicharrón nachos, and ramen mac & cheese, or grab a Sip and Savor Pass to taste their way across the festival.

Beyond the food, guests can catch the return of Soarin’ Over California, enjoy weekend chef demos, and experience lively entertainment like “Cookin’ with the Jammin’ Chefs.”

Spring at Disney just got a lot more delicious. 🍜🍕🍷

02/27/2026

Expat life isn’t a fantasy, but a decision. 🌎

And for Black women, especially, it’s layered with questions about safety, identity, finances, faith, and freedom.

In our latest feature, Earnestine Benford pulls back the curtain on what it really means to live abroad, beyond the hashtags and highlight reels. 🛃

From managing a chronic health condition, to navigating race in Central and South America, to offering unfiltered advice on “Blaxit,” she tells the truth about what it takes to build a life beyond U.S. borders.

Read below. 👇🏽

Considering Blaxit? Earnestine Benford, a Black expat who has spent years living abroad in Central and South America, has some advice.